saw them.’
‘You should have been here with me, Shirley.’
‘I told you she would find out. Just be grateful you didn’t get a fat lip to go with the request. You’re playing with fire, Kate. You don’t pick a fight with anyone in this town unless you’re prepared to go all the way.’
‘Oh, shut up! We’ll stay for half an hour, for appearances’ sake, and then we’re getting out of here. I’m exhausted.’
‘Suits me. There’s no sign of Declan, anyway. Probably it’s too early for him.’
‘We’re not staying till the end of the night, Shirley! I don’t feel well.’
‘All right! All right! You’re the one who drags me in here every weekend, and now you want out again? Make your mind up, for heaven’s sake!’
The two sisters sipped their drinks in stony silence – Shirley slumped in the seat like a half-full sack of potatoes, and Kate trying to stop herself from bursting into tears and wondering where her confidence had gone. Could she be developing some deadly illness that made her tremble like this? She must ring the doctor, first thing on Monday morning. If she was still alive by then. Her chest was almost hammering with tension. She held on to the table as a moment of dizziness came and went. The music seemed far too loud tonight. It made her jump. What was DJ Toni trying to do to them all, having the music so loud? Louise and Mary were out dancing now, laughing like crazy, the two of them. Kate watched them with a sense of mounting dread. Could it be nothing more than that silly Smiths song that had upset her, she wondered frantically. She looked at Shirley for reassurance, but Shirley was scanning the balcony for a sign of Declan Greenwood. Poor Shirley. Declan Greenwood was a middle-class medical student from a fancy house on the expensive side of the Lisburn Road. That road was full of mature trees and BMWs, and the people who lived there employed gardeners and cleaning ladies. That kind of boy, and that kind of life, was out of Shirley’s league, and that’s all there was to it. Kate patted her sister’s arm, in a sudden rush of affection. Shirley’s wide yellow headband and jet-black hair did make her look slightly anaemic, Kate thought, but she hadn’t the heart to say it.
On the dance floor, Louise was having a great time. She even did a couple of twirls and one or two high-kicks. Lots of people were looking at them. Mary was mortified. She’d bet an entire vat of patchouli oil that this whole thing would end badly. Mary spied Kate’s face through the crowd; it was a picture of distress. But Louise was absolutely delighted. When they sat down again, Louise nudged Mary so hard that Mary threw her wine glass over the back of the seat.
‘Round Two to us, Mary!’ said Louise, with the light of triumph shining in her eyes. ‘I always knew that wimp Morrissey would be good for something.’
6. Romance and Ribbons
It was a sunny July morning. Marion smiled as she smoothed out the folds of a new gown in the window of the shop. It was incredibly expensive; much more expensive than the sort of gown she usually sold, but she just couldn’t resist it when the supplier showed it to her. A retro-style with a high collar, long sleeves, a tiny waist and billowing skirts; all in white velvet. There were thousands of pearls on the hem, and even tiny flowers embroidered on the inside of the bodice. The dress was so beautiful that Marion decided it would look perfect on its own, without the gilt chair and the vase of fresh flowers she normally kept in the window. She carried the chair to the dressing room and placed the flowers on the counter of the shop. She went outside to study her work from the street. It really was a fabulous dress, but maybe she did need something to fill that space in the corner – something heavenly? Candles! She would buy a tall, heavy candlestick and some church candles this lunchtime. It really would be perfect, and very much in the style of understated
‘You should have been here with me, Shirley.’
‘I told you she would find out. Just be grateful you didn’t get a fat lip to go with the request. You’re playing with fire, Kate. You don’t pick a fight with anyone in this town unless you’re prepared to go all the way.’
‘Oh, shut up! We’ll stay for half an hour, for appearances’ sake, and then we’re getting out of here. I’m exhausted.’
‘Suits me. There’s no sign of Declan, anyway. Probably it’s too early for him.’
‘We’re not staying till the end of the night, Shirley! I don’t feel well.’
‘All right! All right! You’re the one who drags me in here every weekend, and now you want out again? Make your mind up, for heaven’s sake!’
The two sisters sipped their drinks in stony silence – Shirley slumped in the seat like a half-full sack of potatoes, and Kate trying to stop herself from bursting into tears and wondering where her confidence had gone. Could she be developing some deadly illness that made her tremble like this? She must ring the doctor, first thing on Monday morning. If she was still alive by then. Her chest was almost hammering with tension. She held on to the table as a moment of dizziness came and went. The music seemed far too loud tonight. It made her jump. What was DJ Toni trying to do to them all, having the music so loud? Louise and Mary were out dancing now, laughing like crazy, the two of them. Kate watched them with a sense of mounting dread. Could it be nothing more than that silly Smiths song that had upset her, she wondered frantically. She looked at Shirley for reassurance, but Shirley was scanning the balcony for a sign of Declan Greenwood. Poor Shirley. Declan Greenwood was a middle-class medical student from a fancy house on the expensive side of the Lisburn Road. That road was full of mature trees and BMWs, and the people who lived there employed gardeners and cleaning ladies. That kind of boy, and that kind of life, was out of Shirley’s league, and that’s all there was to it. Kate patted her sister’s arm, in a sudden rush of affection. Shirley’s wide yellow headband and jet-black hair did make her look slightly anaemic, Kate thought, but she hadn’t the heart to say it.
On the dance floor, Louise was having a great time. She even did a couple of twirls and one or two high-kicks. Lots of people were looking at them. Mary was mortified. She’d bet an entire vat of patchouli oil that this whole thing would end badly. Mary spied Kate’s face through the crowd; it was a picture of distress. But Louise was absolutely delighted. When they sat down again, Louise nudged Mary so hard that Mary threw her wine glass over the back of the seat.
‘Round Two to us, Mary!’ said Louise, with the light of triumph shining in her eyes. ‘I always knew that wimp Morrissey would be good for something.’
6. Romance and Ribbons
It was a sunny July morning. Marion smiled as she smoothed out the folds of a new gown in the window of the shop. It was incredibly expensive; much more expensive than the sort of gown she usually sold, but she just couldn’t resist it when the supplier showed it to her. A retro-style with a high collar, long sleeves, a tiny waist and billowing skirts; all in white velvet. There were thousands of pearls on the hem, and even tiny flowers embroidered on the inside of the bodice. The dress was so beautiful that Marion decided it would look perfect on its own, without the gilt chair and the vase of fresh flowers she normally kept in the window. She carried the chair to the dressing room and placed the flowers on the counter of the shop. She went outside to study her work from the street. It really was a fabulous dress, but maybe she did need something to fill that space in the corner – something heavenly? Candles! She would buy a tall, heavy candlestick and some church candles this lunchtime. It really would be perfect, and very much in the style of understated
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